Listen carefully; we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It’s ‘no’. What do you ask? We’ll say it again. ‘No’. Sweet and simple ‘no’.
Say ‘no’ at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. “Saying ‘no’ to others means you are saying ‘yes’ to yourself,” said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan.
Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say ‘yes’ need to say ‘no’ without guilt （内疚）or fear of punishment. “I would rather have someone give me a loving ‘no’ than an obligated （强制的）‘yes’”, she said.
Susie Watson says she feels ‘no’ obligation to give an explanation when she says ‘no’ either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? “Not at all,” said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middle-bury. “Most people are afraid of saying ‘no’. My advice is to say ‘yes’ only if you don’t mean ‘no’.”
Watson said ‘no’ is the most effective weapon against wasting time. “Every year there are more demands on your time. Other people are happy to use up your time,” Watson said. Time saving appears to be ‘no’s’ greatest friend. ‘No’ can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. ‘No’ may even take you further in the business world than “yes”. ‘No’ is power and strength. ‘No’ now seems completely correct. “Saying ‘no’ isn’t easy. But finally it’s greatly liberating,” Charles said. But, he added, a ‘no’ project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit.
But, he also warns: “Don’t go to extremes. Don’t find yourself saying ‘no’ to everything. In return you should learn to hear ‘no’.”
【小题1】The underlined part in the second paragraph means ______.| A．you can have more time to play with others |
| B．you needn’t care about other’s feeling if you are happy |
| C．you are selfish and treat others rudely |
| D．you can deal with your business as you have planned |
| A．secret way | B．polite way | C．proud way | D．guilty way |
| A．they say ‘no’ at a suitable time | B．they say ‘no’ as much as possible |
| C．they are afraid of saying ‘no’ | D．they make others angry at them |
| A．enjoys a wonderful life | B．makes a lot of money |
| C．faces difficulty in life | D．forgets to say ‘yes’ in the end |
That talent showed itself early: when the family went to see a Disney musical film, Swift would come out of the theater singing all the songs correctly. At the age of 11, she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Philadelphia 76ers game. The experiences during her pre-teen years encouraged the creativity to go with Swift’s talent. As a child, she attended the academically competitive Wyndcroft School in Pottstown, but then switched to public schools in Wyomissing. Although it was her hometown, she didn’t know any of her classmates, and she was terrified. Swift began to understand the storytelling feature of country songs, and put her feelings into songs of her own.
One of her future hits, “The Outside”, was written when she was only 12. “I wrote that about the scariest feeling I’ve ever felt: going to school, looking at those faces, and not knowing who you’re gonna talk to that day,” she said. “In the music, I could never feel the kind of rejection (拒绝) that I felt in middle school.” Swift's parents quickly realized that they had someone special on their hands. They sold their farm when she was 13 and moved the family to Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Swift had the ability, above all, to put feelings into words with accuracy (准确) far beyond her years. In “Our Song” she wrote, “Our song is the slamming screen door, going out late, tapping on your window.” In the summer of 2006, “Tim McGraw” came out, and almost from the beginning the 16-year-old Taylor Swift was a star.
【小题1】When she was in her childhood, Taylor Swift ________.
| A．dreamed of being a horse rider |
| B．was expected to help on the farm |
| C．showed her talent for music early |
| D．learned singing from her grandmother |
| A．Difficult | B．Helpful |
| C．Competitive | D．Satisfying |
| A．when she was twelve years old. |
| B．after “The Outside” became a hit. |
| C．because she was rejected in school. |
| D．after they realized her musical talent. |
| A．Swift sang for a Disney movie at a young age. |
| B．“The Outside” came out when Swift was only 12. |
| C．Life in Wyndcroft School encouraged Swift's creativity. |
| D．She tells her stories in her music. |
Your driving record is something that follows you from the day you get your license until the day you hang up your keys. And it's something that can have an impact on different aspects of your life.
It's a good idea to aim to have a clean driving record. It signals to car insurance companies that you're a responsible and safe driver. This pays off for you since it leads to getting better car insurance rates.
But what's considered a clean driving record? If you get any kind of ticket, do you automatically not have a clean driving record anymore?
Here's what you need to know about having a clean driving record:
Your driving record is a public record of your driving history. Remember, from the moment you get your license, you have a driving record.
On your driving record you can find things like:
·Driving license status
·License classifications
·License points
·Traffic accidents
·Moving violations (违反) and fines
·Defensive driving classes taken
So you have a driving record. But what's the distinction between that and a clean driving record?
A clean driving record means your driving history is free of any accidents, moving violations, or points. But don't let this definition scare you off. All insurance companies have different rules and definitions of a clean driving record. Some insurance companies overlook minor moving violations. So if you have a single speeding ticket or some other relatively minor offense that usually doesn't prevent you from having a clean driving record.
【小题1】Why is a clean driving record important?| A．Because it follows you all the time. |
| B．Because it is a public recording of your driving history. |
| C．Because it helps you cut down on the cost of car insurance. |
| D．Because it signals to others that you are responsible and reliable. |
| A．Driving habits. | B．Driving pattern. | C．License test. | D．License type. |
| A．Always running red lights. | B．Often speeding on highways. |
| C．Parking illegally once. | D．Driving after drinking. |
Where to Go Ice-skating Near Austin This Winter
Dreamland Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs
This entertainment, arts and recreational place has magically found itself on everyone’s winter checklist. Why? Well, it could have something to do with the impressive light display, the Artisan Walk with local sellers hawking (沿街叫卖) one-of-a-kind gifts, or, or course, the large ice rink (溜冰场). In other words, it’s transformed into holiday heaven.
Cost: $10 per person, including skate rental
Hours: Open daily; hours vary
Chaparral Ice
West Anderson Lane & Cedar Park
Chaparral Ice is a year-round ice which has two locations complete with hockey games, memberships and more, so serious enthusiasts needn’t wait for a long time. Public skating and adults-only skate sessions are also on hand.
Cost: $12 per person; skate rental is $6 for each pair
Hours: Open daily; hours vary
The Winter Ice Skating Rink
Marble Falls
Marble Falls sits just an hour northeast of downtown. This adorable little town is like escaping to the North Pole at Christmas time, with lots of fun events and one of the prettiest ice rinks in central Texas. It’s in the open air and surrounded by beautiful nature.
Cost: $10-12 per person, including skate rental
Hours: Open daily from 5 pm to 10 pm
The Pond Hockey Club
North Austin
The Pond Hockey Club isn’t so much a place to drop by for casual skating, but more of a destination for ice-sport learners. They have beginner lessons in both ice hockey and figure skating for kids and adults. So if you’re taking to ice-skating this year, the Pond Hockey Club is a good choice.
Cost: Lesson and league prices vary
Hours: Open daily; hours vary
【小题1】What makes Dreamland Dripping Springs a must-visit?
| A．Its price advantage. | B．Its long opening hours. |
| C．Its two large, pretty ice rinks. | D．Its amazing holiday atmosphere. |
| A．$36. | B．$30. | C．$24. | D．S18. |
| A．Chaparral Ice. | B．The Pond Hockey Club. |
| C．Dreamland Dripping Springs. | D．The Winter Ice Skating Rink |
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